Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Victorville, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories
Victorville
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,746 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Victorville, CA
Pros
Households earn $6,838 more per year on average
Homes cost $18k less ($300,600 vs $318,600)
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Wilmington
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
52% less violent crime than Victorville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $248/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,461)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Victorville
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Victorville by $6,838/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Victorville
Median Income
$6,838
$65,746 vs $58,908/yr
Victorville
Median Home Value
$18k less
$300,600 vs $318,600
Victorville
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
52% lower
482.8 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
4.9% vs 10.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Victorville, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $300,600 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,461⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,746 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.3%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 40.5 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 201⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (57) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.4% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.3% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Victor Elementary | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 5.6" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 134,417 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.7% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Victorville's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories. Victorville wins 10 and Wilmington wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Victorville to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($300,600 vs $318,600 median home), income ($65,746 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Victorville, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,236 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.